Beyond Time (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"She was knocking loud enough to wake the dead, Ashien. I should have just let her come in to find you naked." Dylan said with a smirk as he insisted he hadn't heard her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't hear a thing," Ashien shrugged. "I was having a lovely dream about a former lady friend." It wasn't true at all, but he couldn't help poking fun.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I hope she was beautiful enough to keep you happy while you sleep somewhere else tonight." Dylan said, her hands on her hips as she glared at her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You take me far too seriously, my love," Ashien told her with a softer sort of smile. "I've been dreaming of you since before I knew you, sappy as that sounds."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not going to let your romance work on me this time, Ashien." Dylan threatened, a smile coming to her lips before too much longer.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If you insist..." Ashien shrugged, turning to continue toward the great Hall. "I won't bother you, milady."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're really going to walk away from me?" Dylan asked, knowing that they were playing a game. "I thought you were never supposed to walk away from your wife when she's upset and wronged."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well then come along," he encouraged with a smirk, motioning for her to follow.

 

[heartofcourage]

Dylan laughed softly as she came to his side, wrapping her arm around his waist and leaning into his side. She couldn't stay mad at him for long.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien welcomed her with an adoring kiss before he continued on. They wandered around the keep for a while, Ashien showing her some of the tapestries, before they got their cloaks and went out to the market just to walk and window-shop. Eventually a particular store caught Ashien's eye, and he brought Dylandra in to reveal it was a small bakery that also made treats like candied nuts and scones sprinkled with crystalline sugar. Ashien didn't hesitate to buy a bit of everything for his nieces and nephews, and a bit extra should the adults want some as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are like a child yourself, Ashien." Dylan said with a smile as her husband spent a small fortune in the bakery for his nieces and nephews. "Which is why I think they all love you so much."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I'm among the youngest of my siblings. I'm only in my early twenties," Ashien reminded her. "And I remember how excited I felt when Vincenzo would surprise us with things like this in Italy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll go broke making those little ones happy." Dylan said with a smile, kissing her husband's cheek gently before she turned to look around the shop a little more. "Maybe we should take some homemade items back to London with us. A special treat for when you feel down."

 

[KieranSoares]

"What did you have in mind?" He asked as the shopkeeper carefully bagged up the sweets. Ashien hadn't had anything or anyone to spend money on for a few years, save his work, pantry, and paying his staff. He was more than happy to spend on little things to make his family smile, and of course showing Dylandra off.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Maybe some jams? Some honey? Anything that can be easy stored." Dylan suggested, glancing back towards her husband. "Whatever you want, love. It's all up to you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe I'll sweet-talk Chessie out of some of her stock," Ashien thought aloud. "She always stores away far more than anyone needs every winter, and gives the extra out to anyone who wants any come spring."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll use them for celebrations. It'll be like having a little piece of home with us." Dylan said with a grin as Ashien mused about what he might be able to get from Chessie for their pantry. "Or we could make Van sweet talk her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If anyone can sweet-talk Chessie, it's Van and Vincenzo. Maybe we can get twice as much out of her," Ashien chuckled. Taking Dylandra's hand, he stepped outside with her. "So what else should we get up to today?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's your home. Show me what you like." Dylan said as she squeezed her husband's hand. "I might let you spoil me today if you really want."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could show you around town a bit, maybe steal you away to some secret spots. A lot's changed since I was little."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Steal me away? It sounds as if your mind is elsewhere at the moment, Ashien Ghis." Dylan teased, kissing his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

"My mind tends to be all over, but especially with things concerning us," Ashien assured her with a kiss in return. "But in this particular case, I promise my intentions are nothing but honorable... Unless you wish them not to be." Hand in hand, he welcomed her to come along on a walk toward the loch and the eastern forest. He wanted to show her the places he'd found more than ten years prior when Brogan's ascension to the throne freed his remaining siblings from the bounds of the keep, driving away Oliver Colton and his men who made venturing outside unsafe.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I never imagined that such loveliness existed." Dylan commented as they walked through the thick forest around the keep. "I've never seen anything like this before. There are spots where wild animals are kept so people can view and little plots of land that are cared for so that people who live in the city might enjoy the wilderness. But there is nothing like this. It's lovely."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Scotland is still as wild as they come, even so close to Inverness' doorstep. Off toward Inverlochly, there are miles and miles of forests that have never been touched by human hands. I suppose that might be why Boar chose to live there for so long- the animals are plentiful in the Old Growth." Ashien wrapped an arm about Dylandra's waist. "Do they still have legends about loch dragons and creatures in your time? Like the Inverness dragon?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"The Loch Ness Monster. They call it Nessie now." Dylan said with a chuckle as her husband's strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her tightly against his side. "It's a big, snake like dragon creature. There are some that think it's real, but most don't."